Jan. 2, 2000: Patriots 20, Ravens 3

Baltimore Sun photo by John Makely

The Ravens had been knocked out of playoff contention the previous week, but this desultory performance hurt because it threw the franchise into a temporary identity crisis. Were the Ravens the team that had won four straight down the stretch behind a developing core of young talent? Or were they the turnover-prone mediocrity that couldn't muster any offense against a reeling New England squad? As it turned out, the loss was not a dark portent for the next season, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Pictured above, Priest Holmes is stopped near the goal line by Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy.

The Ravens had been knocked out of playoff contention the previous week, but this desultory performance hurt because it threw the franchise into a temporary identity crisis. Were the Ravens the team that had won four straight down the stretch behind a developing core of young talent? Or were they the turnover-prone mediocrity that couldn't muster any offense against a reeling New England squad? As it turned out, the loss was not a dark portent for the next season, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Pictured above, Priest Holmes is stopped near the goal line by Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy. (Baltimore Sun photo by John Makely)

The Ravens had been knocked out of playoff contention the previous week, but this desultory performance hurt because it threw the franchise into a temporary identity crisis. Were the Ravens the team that had won four straight down the stretch behind a developing core of young talent? Or were they the turnover-prone mediocrity that couldn't muster any offense against a reeling New England squad? As it turned out, the loss was not a dark portent for the next season, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Pictured above, Priest Holmes is stopped near the goal line by Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy.